Today is a quick update on my trip yesterday through Calico Rock, Arkansas and up through Mountain Home and back around to West Plains, MO.
Adventures in the Ozarks is my long-term color film study of the places and people that shape the Ozarks. I photograph historic mills, lone trees, creeks and rivers, small-town life, old barns, farm scenes, backroads, and the wild horses that still move to an older rhythm.
I shoot Kodak Portra because it fits how the Ozarks feels: gentle light, weathered surfaces, and color that doesn’t demand attention. I use Portra 400 when I’m working handheld and moving fast, and Portra 160 when I can slow down on a tripod and let the scene settle. Both films give me a quiet palette and smooth tones that match this place—faded paint, winter grasses, river reflections, and the last light of day.
My adventure today started in West Plain, MO and I looped through Moody, MO and Viola, and then into Calico Rock, AR where there is an abandoned ghost town and some beautiful scenic river bluff views. I then looped up through Mountain Home, AR and back into West Plains, MO. It was cold out today, only 20 degrees Fahrenheit and so I didn’t stop at several places that I plan to return to on a future adventure.
I got to see two mature eagles soaring over the river and bluffs at Calico Rock, so that was exciting and fun to watch.
Phone Camera Snapshots
Below are some of the snapshots from my phone while I was actually photographing with my Canon 1V 35mm camera using the 24-105mm f/4 lens. I used Kodak Portra 160 for the adventure today because I was out of stock on my typical Kodak Portra 400. I am heading over to my darkroom to develop the film today and I will follow up with a new article and video reviewing some of the best images from the day.
Ready to go deeper with your photography? – Join the Darkroom Diary Premium Membership—a creative refuge for film photographers working with 35mm, medium format, or large format. Whether you’re scanning and sharing or crafting fine art prints, you’ll find expert guidance, meaningful conversation, and a supportive community focused on vision, process, and emotional impact. Join today and start creating work that truly matters.
If you enjoy slowing down with film, darkroom printing, and meaningful photography, consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel. I share new videos each week focused on simple tools, timeless techniques, and the quiet joy of analog.
